According to an official data record, the centre has spent Rs 1.32 billion as part of a media blitz to create awareness about the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax.

An RTI query answered by an agency under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed this number.

The bureau's RTI response is dated August 9, 2018.

As per the Bureau of Outreach and Communication under the ministry, the "expenditure on GST advertisements through this bureau" on print media itself stood at Rs 1.26 billion.

For electronic media there was "nil" expenditure.

Rs 54 million was spent on outdoor advertisements.

Days ahead of the implementation, the government started coming out with full-page advertisement in leading dailies explaining various procedures and processes to be followed by industry for complying with GST rules.

The government had also roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador to promote GST and inform people about its benefits.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) had also issued a set of 50 FAQs on various provisions of GST in the form of full-page advertisements in newspapers, answering queries of traders and business.